When the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the San Antonio Fire Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, and the ATF followed up on a young man’s failed attempt to purchase an assault shotgun from a pawn shop, their investigation resulted in arresting a twenty-year-old man and charging him with planning mass murder.

Cameron Darrick Peterson of New Braunfels, Texas, was found guilty and sentenced in federal court to 78 months in federal prison. He was charged with three counts related to firearm and explosive offenses.

The FBI released a statement saying Peterson was found guilty of a charge related to his planned “mass murder attacks that were thwarted by federal and local law enforcement.”

In legal documents, Peterson was accused of planning mass shootings since 2022. In January 2024, the now-convicted defendant visited a New Braunfels pawn shop and chose a 12-gauge shotgun for purchase. As per the law, Peterson filled out the required background check but was denied the ability to purchase the assault weapon due to his age, 20, plus the type of firearm he wanted to buy.

Court documents state that Peterson went back to the pawn shop a few months later, in May 2024, and again tried to purchase the 12-gauge shotgun. He was denied his right to buy the weapon a second time.

The FBI successfully filed for an arrest warrant a week later and took him into custody. Armed with a warrant, the FBI agents searched his home. According to court documents, the result of the search lists evidence found including “an altered .22 caliber long rifle with a sawed-off buttstock and six magazines loaded.”

Following the search of Peterson’s home, as stated in court documents, the agents, utilizing a federal search warrant, searched the then-defendant’s Instagram accounts. On the social media account, Peterson posted “statements” about his plans to “attack a gas station.”

While Peterson was in jail, the agents recovered a recording of him telling a witness to get rid of a videotape he had created of surveillance of a grocery store for another planned attack.

The agents stated in legal documents that they conducted a second search of Peterson’s home and found a box filled with dangerous items. The search, they noted, “revealed a box that contained 11 aerosol containers and other ingredients to manufacture destructive devices. One of the containers was determined that it could be readily made operational and was categorized as an Improvised Explosive Device.” The IED was not registered.

After the searches, Peterson was indicted in June 2024 on three counts related to firearm and explosive offenses.

He pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of attempting to receive a firearm to use to commit a felony.

In a public statement, U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas said that background checks and other laws such as age requirements to purchase an assault weapon save lives.

“This case is demonstrative of how our law enforcement and the systems in place to prevent certain firearm purchases by those under the legal age work in tandem to successfully prevent mass murder events like this defendant had planned,” said U.S. Attorney Leachman. “Due to the fine investigative efforts and teamwork of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New Braunfels Police, and other local and federal partners, Peterson’s plans to detonate explosives and slaughter innocents in multiple locations in our district were deterred.”

The successful investigation and ensuing trial were the results of numerous agencies working together in the field.

“Americans should be able to live free from fear of becoming a victim of a mass shooter,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “Thankfully, Peterson’s plans were thwarted when vigilant citizens saw something and said something. We are grateful to our partners on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force - especially the San Antonio Fire Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Attorney's Office for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who observes something suspicious, potential indicators of violence, or threats against our community to report them at tips.fbi.gov. Together we can prevent acts of mass violence.”